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1906 Newspaper Article pertaining to Richard Benson Stoddard

POLICE SEEK MISSING GIRL Property Was Carried Home by Sarah Beaghan Before Her Disappearance. TAKEN FROM CHINA STORE She Had Been Employed by Richard B. Stoddard, in His China Store. SOLD BY ORDER OF COURT Stock in Store Auctioned to Satisfy Claim of Girl and Her Mother. Sarah Beaghan, 15 years old, has disappeared, and her mother, Mrs. Ella Beaghan of 2837 Lucas avenue, has surrendered to the police $200 worth of bric-a-brac taken home by the girl Wednesday, but now claimed by John Wulsen of 3146 Olive street, who says he purchased the articles as part of the stock of Richard B. Stoddard. Sarah was employed by Stoddard, and, as has been brought out recently in a justice court, he abandoned the business, leaving a note empowering the girl to sell his stock in settlement of a claim of $300 held against him by Sarah and her mother. The police have been unable to find Stoddard. He Is wanted to explain the bric-a-brac transaction and help decide ownership. Girl Went Away March 7. Mrs. Beaghan told the police Saturday that her daughter disappeared on the night of March 7. She has heard nothing from the girl since that time. nor she said had she any idea as to Stoddard's whereabouts. Stoddard's business was bought at a constable's sale March 6 by John J. Nulsen. On the night of that day, so Nulsen informed the police, bric-a-brac, chinaware and other articles to the value of $200 were taken from the store. Entrance to the store, Nulsen said, was obtained by means of a duplicate key. Saturday morning the police recovered $60 worth of chinaware at the Beaghan residence. Mrs. Beaghan explained that her daughter had taken it home with her on the day preceding her disappearance. She did not know where it had been procured. According to the police Stoddard abandoned his business Feb. 15, but he has been seen several times since then. Store Sold by Court Order. Mrs. Beaghan and her daughter, who claimed Stoddard was indebted to them in the sum of $300, instituted court proceedings, under which the stock owned by Stoddard was sold. Shortly after Stoddard went away the police found a note which he had left stating that if anything happened to him his property should be turned Over to Sarah Beaghan. Mr. Nulsen, who succeeded Stoddard as proprietor of the china store, said to the police that Stoddard had visited Kim two or three times last week, but he had not seen him since March 6. Stoddard is married, the police say, and his wife Is said to reside in St. Louis. Until recently he boarded at the Plaza Hotel on Locust street. Sarah Beaghan had been working I for Stoddard about two months. Her mother is at a loss to account for her absence. Constable Has Girl's Money. Harold Johnson, an attorney with an office in the Roe Building, was employed by Mrs. Beaghan to look after her interest in the attachment suit. "The disappearance of young Miss Beaghan is mystifying me," said Mr. Johnson to a Post-Dispatch reporter. "In the first place, there is still due herself and mother on the sale of china stock $201. This money is now in the hands of a constable. "I never learned how Stoddard became indebted to Mrs. Beaghan, but it was probably an overdue salary account. "After Stoddard left and Mr. Nulsen took up his stock, Sarah Beaghan was employed to wind up the business - that is, so far as the creditors of the store were concerned. She is an exceptionally bright girl and managed the place in a most business-line manner. "It was after she turned over the business to Nulsen, the business being practically closed out for the benefit of creditors, that Miss Beaghan disappeared. "Stoddard and Miss Beaghan and her mother formerly lived at the Plaza Hotel on Locust street.


Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Saturday, March 10, 1906, page 2